Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (1)

Gareth Bacon: How many GLA officers across the GLA Group are currently working on the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm initiative? Please provide a breakdown of officers by directorate and grade.

The Mayor: London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, but many Londoners do not see themselves or their histories reflected in our public realm. This cannot continue and that is why this initiative has been welcomed by Londoners, boroughs, partners and other cities.
The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm programme is being delivered by my Culture and Creative Industries and Communities and Social Policy Units, drawing on expertise from across the GLA group, and externally, as necessary. The programme is overseen by my Deputy Mayors, Justine Simons OBE and Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard.
The programme currently has one dedicated officer, drawing in support and expertise from across the existing teams. Staffing support in future will be agreed through the GLA’s business planning processes.

Food Bank Usage as a Result of Covid-19

Leonie Cooper: How are your Recovery Board and Transition Board monitoring whether the long-term economic impact of Covid-19 is leading to an increased use of food banks in London?

The Mayor: I am deeply concerned by the increased number of Londoners experiencing food insecurity and the increased food bank usage resulting from Covid-19. The pandemic has had a significant impact on household incomes which is expected to lead to further rises in poverty and food insecurity. The Trussell Trust has forecast a 61% increase in need compared to last winter.
I have been working with local authority and voluntary and community sector partners (including food aid providers) since the start of the pandemic to monitor this situation across London. This includes monitoring weekly data provided by all boroughs on levels of demand for food aid. These networks have provided vital intelligence to the GLA, Strategic Coordination Group and the Transition Board on Covid-related food insecurity and food aid and will continue to do so in the months ahead.

Tideway Tunnel

Leonie Cooper: Can you confirm that Thames Tideway project is running on time and to budget?

The Mayor: Please see my Mayor's Question 2020/2996 response from last month here: https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2020/2996
Since last month, ‘Rachel’ the Tideway tunnel boring machine broke through at Acton following a 7km journey tunnelling from Fulham. This marks a major milestone on the delivery of the project, which will deliver huge benefits to the river Thames in London, reducing pollution and improving the water quality and ecology of the river.

Universal Credit Claimants in London and Covid-19 (2)

Leonie Cooper: What impact has Covid-19 had on the number of families who have been using food vouchers or are in receipt of free school meals?

The Mayor: New data from the Food Foundation reveals 29% (2.2 million children) of children aged 8-17 are now registered for free school meals, with 42% of these children newly registered. This substantial increase indicates that Covid-19 has significantly exacerbated food insecurity in London – likely to be worsened by rising levels of unemployment.
Free school meals provide a nutritional safety net for millions of children, but the current eligibility criteria exclude thousands of vulnerable children whose families either have ‘no recourse to public funds’, receive Universal Credit but have an annual household income above £7,400, or are experiencing in-work poverty.
Every child has a right to food and there is no justification for preventing children in need from accessing free school meals. I therefore welcome the proposed actions in the recently published National Food Strategy, particularly those aiming to tackle children’s food insecurity including the recommendation to extend eligibility for Free School Meals.

London Power

Shaun Bailey: How much money has the GLA given to London Power and what form was this in?

The Mayor: The GLA has committed up to £3.2m to the set-up and ongoing running of London Power. This is made up of both GLA budget and loans to London Power Co.:
Also please see my response to Mayor's Question 2020/3296.

Harmful emissions

Shaun Bailey: Please provide a breakdown of the harmful emissions in London and what their source is?

The Mayor: Around half of London’s pollution comes from road transport. Other key sources include aviation, construction, domestic and commercial heating and commercial cooking. A full breakdown of emissions by source is produced as part of the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory and is available on the London datastore, here: https://data.london.gov.uk/air-quality/. An updated inventory will be published next year.
It is important to note the inventory only accounts for emission sources within London. For pollutants such as particulate matter a large proportion of emissions come from sources outside of London such as agriculture and industrial processes.

London emission map

Shaun Bailey: What does the most recent emission map in London look like?

The Mayor: Earlier this month, I published new evidence showing the dramatic improvement in London’s air quality since I became Mayor. This includes a 97 per cent reduction in the number of state primary and secondary schools located in areas exceeding legal limits from nitrogen dioxide – from 455 in 2016, to just 14 in 2019. A study by King’s College London looking at the overall rate of improvement in NO2 levels across London before 2016 found that if the trend of inaction seen between 2010 and 2016 continued it would take 193 years to reach legal compliance. However, further modelling undertaken for City Hall by King’s College London suggests that my far-reaching policies will reduce this to just five years.
While significant progress has been made, with a substantial reduction in the number of Londoners living in areas exceeding legal limits for NO2, tens of thousands of Londoners still breathe illegally polluted air and 99 per cent of Londoners live in areas exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended guidelines for PM2.5, which are much tighter than the legal standards. This is why I will be expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone in October 2021.
The report is available on the City Hall website: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/environment/pollution-and-air-quality/air-quality-london-2016-2020

River Pollution (1)

Leonie Cooper: Recent data from the Environment Agency has shown that 0% of England’s rivers, lakes and streams are in good health1. How much of difference will Tideway, the ‘super sewer’ make in improving the health of London’s open water?

1Gov.uk ‘WFD Classification Status Cycle 2’ [Date accessed 18.09.20]

The Mayor: The Tideway project will hugely reduce the amount of sewage that is released into the river Thames. The Victorian sewers were designed to overflow into the river when flows reach a certain level, to prevent flooding. Currently sewage spills into the Thames when their capacity is exceeded, following heavy rain. The new Tideway sewer, which will be operated by Thames Water, will resolve this problem for all but the most extreme of rainfall events. The benefits, while significant, are limited to the river Thames. There are many other tributary rivers and canals in London which also experience poor water quality as a result of sewer overflows, plumbing misconnections and polluted surface water and road run off.
My London Environment Strategy recognises this and sets out policies to tackle misconnections and diffuse pollution (see 2020/3373 & 2020/3374). Sustainable Drainage and natural approaches to managing surface water are key mitigation measures, which is why my Grow Back Greener Fund is supporting greening projects that feature sustainable drainage features. It is as essential that the source of the pollution is tackled through awareness raising, investigation and enforcement activities and my officers are in regular contact with the regulator and water company to ensure this is prioritised.

Old Oak & Park Royal - CSR submission (2)

Tony Devenish: What specifically are you requesting funding for in relation to Old Oak and Park Royal in your CSR submission, and how would this money be spent?

The Mayor: OPDC is currently developing its potential funding requirements so a detailed breakdown is not possible at this stage.
This work is being developed in tandem with preparing modifications to its draft Local Plan which will be the foundation for any future funding application.

Old Oak & Park Royal - CSR submission (3)

Tony Devenish: What evidence have you submitted in relation to your funding request for Old Oak and Park Royal, and what business case have you prepared? Please share.

The Mayor: OPDC is currently developing its potential funding requirements, so no evidence has yet been submitted. The government has also not yet issued any guidance on the likely requirements for a future funding programme.

Old Oak & Park Royal - CSR submission (4)

Tony Devenish: What GLA Group resources have so far been spent on preparing the funding request for Old Oak and Park Royal in your CSR submission?

The Mayor: No GLA Group resources have spent on preparing a funding bid in relation to the CSR submission as no funding programme has yet been released by government.
OPDC’s planning and delivery teams have prioritised the work to submit appropriate modifications to its draft Local Plan and to assess likely infrastructure and delivery requirements to deliver OPDC’s housing and jobs targets and its budget for the current year to support this work is £400,000.

Biodiversity net gain

Andrew Boff: In your London Environment Strategy, you say that you will develop a biodiversity net gain approach for London. What measurable progress have you made to date with this?

The Mayor: The Government included a proposal for a mandatory biodiversity net gain in the Environment Bill. My Environment Strategy and London Plan included policies to develop and promote biodiversity net gain in anticipation of the framework that would be provided by Government legislation. Unfortunately, the Environment Bill has yet to be passed into law.
Nevertheless, biodiversity net gain can also be delivered through my Urban Greening policy in the new London Plan. I will publish detailed guidance on the application of the Urban Greening Factor, and how it can help to achieve biodiversity net gain, as supplementary guidance to the new London Plan before the end of the year.

Woodland (2)

Tony Arbour: Would the Mayor confirm whether the planting for the new woodland area in Enfield announced 23rd July 2020 will start as planned in November?

The Mayor: Yes, tree planting with volunteers is currently being planned by environmental charity Thames 21. Events are being planned to take place every 1st and 3rd Saturday from Nov 2020 through to March 2021., subject to any Covid19 guidelines and restrictions.

Reducing ozone pollution in London (2)

Caroline Russell: Thank you for your answer to my question 2020/2607. What is your estimate for the number of premature deaths in Greater London during the air pollution episodes that occurred during August and September this year that were attributable to short-term exposure to (a) ozone and (b) particulate (PM2.5 and PM10)?

The Mayor: There has not been a study evaluation of the impact of these episodes. However, a recent study by King’s College London found higher air pollution days in London are responsible for 87 ‘out-of hospital’ cardiac arrests, and 251 children or adults being hospitalised for asthma or strokes per year. Many other Londoners will be affected by high pollution levels and experience breathlessness and have to use inhalers more.
We also know the effects of long-term exposure on mortality are greater than the effects of short-term exposure, which is why the most effective approach to reducing the health impacts of air pollution in London will be using systemic air pollution reduction policies such as the Ultra Low Emission Zone.
You can read the report by King’s College London here: http://erg.ic.ac.uk/Research/home/projects/personalised-health-impacts.html

Adult Education Training Centres (1)

Jennette Arnold: What support are you offering to adult education centres to help them adapt to the challenges of lockdown and remote working?

The Mayor: In response to COVID-19, I have taken a number of steps to support adult education centres to adapt to the challenges of lockdown and remote working. I have secured the immediate financial security of AEB providersbycontinuingto pay grant-funded providerson their agreed profile for the remainder of the yearand ensuring the impact of COVID-19isfully taken into account in thefinalyear reconciliation processfor all providers. I havealso launched a COVID-19 Response Fund worth up to £11m for AEB providers to expand their online provision, adapt courses,and build capacity to ensure they are equipped to reach learners who are at risk of digital exclusion.
Additionally, I have also made changes to the AEB funding rules to make it more flexible and responsive to the challenges both providers and learners face. An independent evaluation of the first year of London’s AEB highlighted how quickly we have taken decisions on current funding arrangements and any additional funding, as well as introducing new flexibilities.

London Power financial risks

Caroline Russell: Following the collapse of Robin Hood energy in Nottingham and subsequent issues with Angelic Energy in Islington, are you conducting any new business, financial viability or risk assessments on London Power? If so, when will they be published?

The Mayor: London Power has a very different model to those companies. I decided to partner with an existing company rather than set up a new energy supply company from scratch. I chose this approach because I believed it would be less risky, less costly and faster.
London Power’s partner, Octopus Energy, are a financially robust and growing company, and passed the financial stability tests in our procurement, as well as providing a monthly confirmation of their financial robustness.
We are not conducting any additional risk assessments on London Power, as I am confident that we already have robust governance processes in place which already reviews risks regularly.

Universities sector [3]

Andrew Dismore: Universities are well-placed to take a leadership role within their local communities’ recovery from the pandemic, and to work with both local authorities and the FE sector who may be lacking the recovery apparatus and range of connections that universities have to build back prosperity. This is often particularly important for modern universities, like Middlesex University, that are anchor institutions plugging skills gaps and providing employment within their local communities. Do you agree that there is an opportunity to support universities to work more holistically with local authorities and colleges in London and fulfil their wider civic role in this time of crisis, for example by co-ordinating initiatives such as university-industry secondments to encourage SME scale-ups and local innovation transfer, or by integrating pathways of learning between universities and their local FE colleges? If so, will you speak to Middlesex University about how to do this?

The Mayor: London’s Universities and the Further Education (FE) sector will play a key role in London’s economic and social recovery from COVID-19, as anchor institutions in their local communities. Both the Higher Education and FE sectors are represented on the London Recovery Board which is co-ordinating the planning of London'slong-termrecovery effort.
My Higher Level Skills Advisory Group (a subordinate body to the Skills for Londoners Board), brings together representatives from HE, FE and London Councils, including a representative from Middlesex University. This group are meeting on 22 October to engage members in the action plan for delivery of the recovery missions, with a particular focus on my ‘Helping Londoners into Good Work’ mission. The group will discuss the projects that could help to contribute to the delivery of this mission and the role of higher level learning.

Tree cover in London

Andrew Dismore: Are you aware of the FoE campaign to double the tree coverage in London? Do you support it and what are you doing to help achieve this?

The Mayor: Friends of the Earth’s campaign calls on government to double tree cover across the UK and asks local authorities nationwide to double tree cover in their area. Whilst I support the ambition to significantly increase tree canopy cover nationally, most of this increase would be achieved in rural areas where there is significant space for woodland creation.
In my London Environment Strategy, I set a target to increase London’s tree canopy cover by 10 per cent of current levels by 2050 - from 21 per cent to 23.1 per cent of London’s land area. This will add 3,300 hectares of canopy cover – 23 times the area of Hyde Park.
This an ambitious and realistic target for London, and the capital already exceeds the Forestry Commission’s recommendation for 20 per cent canopy cover in urban areas.
To support this ambition, since 2016 I have funded the planting of 286,000 trees, with funding committed to plant a further 145,000 trees during the 2020/21 and 2021/22 planting seasons.

Food waste

Leonie Cooper: Food waste: how many London Boroughs now offer local residents separate food waste collections?

The Mayor: My London Environment Strategy (LES) requires all London boroughs to collect food waste separately from properties with a kerbside collection.
24 boroughs already offer kerbside food waste collections. Nine boroughs do not currently offer this :Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Hammersmith and Fulham, Havering, Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, Redbridge, Wandsworthand Westminster.
My officers have worked with these boroughs to set out in their Reduction and Recycling Plan (RRP) a commitment of how and when they will provide kerbside food waste services. Barnet have committed to reintroducing this service from April 2022. Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Hammersmith and Fulham RRPs were approved on condition of a commitment and clear road map of rollout following trials, ideally by 2022. Due to contractual restraints Wandsworth cannot introduce a food waste service before 2024 but have a trial planned within the RRP period.
The remaining boroughs are the constituent authorities of the East London Waste Authority (ELWA). There are contractual and technological constraints within ELWA’s disposal contract which mean the potential for significant service change to waste and recycling services is severely limited. We are aware of numerous contract reviews at national and local level that have found little to no latitude within the contract. I am working with these boroughs to identify what other improvements can be made
Please see also Mayor's Question 2020/2979.

Training and cladding remediation work (2)

Andrew Dismore: How is Skills for Londoners being used to address the shortage of skilled personnel in cladding remediation work?

The Mayor: Skills for Londoners supports the Mayor’s Construction Academy (MCA) which aims to increase the number of Londoners able to work in the construction sector.Whilst there is no targeted support for cladding remediation work, the MCA Hubs provide a connecting point between those helping develop the workforce, whether employers or training providers, or the people that want to be part of that workforce. Part of that role is to promote career opportunities and progression to higher level professional occupations in the sector, such as surveying, site management and Building Information Modelling (BIM).

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (8)

Gareth Bacon: How will the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm decide where or what to look at first?

The Mayor: London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, but many Londoners do not see themselves or their histories reflected in our public realm. The Commission will take forward a programme of work to address this which will have public engagement, discussion and information at its heart.
I have set up a Partners Board to support and inform the Commission’s work, including Arts Council England, Black Cultural Archives, National Heritage Lottery Foundation, English Heritage, ActionSpace and Shape Arts. A Borough working group will meet regularly to share information and best practice, including learning from other community consultations.
My teams are running community engagement events and a Talk London campaign to gain insight into what Londoners feel should be the initial priorities for the Commission. The Commission will discuss first steps at its first meeting before the end of the year, taking its cues from these partnerships and research programmes.

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (9)

Gareth Bacon: How many applications did you receive for the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm?

The Mayor: On 11 September, I launched an open recruitment process for members of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm.
By the closing date, 290 applications for the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm had been received.

Apprenticeships (3)

Jennette Arnold: How many young people in London were unable to complete their apprenticeships on time due to lockdown and Covid-19?

The Mayor: Unfortunately, it is not possible to establish how many young people were unable to complete their apprenticeships until the achievement data is released by the Department for Education, which is typically 3-4 months following the end of the academic year.
I continue to lobby central government to ensure that apprenticeships remain viable during the health crisis and subsequent economic downturn. This includes asking for greater support for apprentices, that have been made redundant due to the public health restrictions, to help them find new roles quickly before their apprenticeship learning expires.

Apprenticeships (4)

Jennette Arnold: How many apprenticeships schemes in London have faced challenges as a result of COVID-19 and the pressures businesses have faced?

The Mayor: Unfortunately, it is not possible to answer this question with the available data. Anecdotally, through my London Progression Collaboration pilot which aims to help over 1,000 Londoners to progress from unemployment into work, and from low-paid low-skilled work into better-quality, higher-paying jobs, I understand many employers engaged in the programme placed their apprenticeship plans on hold or cancelled them indefinitely. This prompted my decision to expand the scope of the pilot to cover all sectors and occupations in London.
It is vital that employers are supported to create apprenticeship opportunities during this difficult time.
I continue to lobby central government for greater flexibility in the levy transfer rules, that the apprenticeship employer incentive is made available for longer, and for it to reflect the higher cost of living, working and training in the capital. I also continue to ask for the powers and funding to establish a London Apprenticeship Service.

Retrofit Accelerator supply chain

Leonie Cooper: In response to MQ 2020/0496 you stated that “The deep retrofit market in the UK is at an early stage. It is currently expensive and subject to a limited supply chain.” Please detail how you are addressing this to ensure that the Retrofit Accelerator can meet its targets by August 2022.

The Mayor: Progress towards decarbonising London’s homes is hindered by the UK’s underdeveloped retrofit supply chain and a dearth of suitably accredited suppliers. This situation is even more acute when it comes to deeper ‘whole-house’ retrofit approaches. Through my Retrofit Accelerator – Homes programme we have undertaken a thorough investigation of the market, engaging both the supply chain and social housing sector. This work has ascertained that while viable technical solutions to whole-house deep retrofit exist and social landlords are committed to transforming the energy efficiency of their stock, current approaches to procuring deep retrofit are cumbersome and to date have not yielded the economic price point that would drive the expansion of the market.
To address this, my officials are working on an ‘Innovation Partnership’ model which will bring leading social landlords and the supply chain together to accelerate the pace of deep retrofit while driving down the costs so that the programme can both meet its targets and lay the foundations for the wider market thereafter. A webinar for the supply chain was held 14 October, 2020 and it is anticipated that approved suppliers will be formally matched with social landlords in February 2021 to begin work.

Adult Education Training Centres (2)

Jennette Arnold: What guidance are you giving to adult education training centres to help them provide retraining courses in the skills London needs?

The Mayor: Given how much is still unknown about the future of London’s labour market, my immediate focus has been to support providers to deliver education and training to thoseLondonersmost at risk of losing their jobstohelp them retrain and re/upskill to access new employment opportunities.
I have made all ‘Level 3’ qualifications lasting for a year or less free for any adult Londoner unemployed or earning below the London Living Wage, as a Level 3 qualification is more likely to lead tobetter paid, more secure work. I have also allowed providers to use their Adult Education Budget (AEB) allocations more flexibly to run targeted pre-employment and job-focused training to support those hit hardest by the pandemic. Additionally, I’ve made an extra £1.9m available, on top of the £12.9m received from the government, for the delivery of high value courses, sector-based work academies and London Recovery Programmes.
My team is in regular contact with the sector, encouraging open, collaborative debate – something the team were widely praised for in an independent evaluation of the first year of AEB delegation. I am also shortly due to chair a roundtable with FE college principals to discuss what more I can do to support them to deliver the skills that Londoners need through London’s recovery.

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (6)

Gareth Bacon: When do you plan on publishing the total cost and expenditure of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm?

The Mayor: London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, but many Londoners do not see themselves or their histories reflected in our public realm. The range of people immortalised in our statues, memorials and buildings do not capture who we are and what we represent. The Commission, working with London boroughs and partners across the city, will take forward a programme of work to address this.
A budget is in development to support the Commission’s work this year. This will come from within the GLA’s existing allocation of the GLA Group budget and will be published via a Mayoral Decision once confirmed. Any budget covering the Commission’s work in future years will be set as part of the normal GLA budget setting process, reviewed by the London Assembly in February 2021.

MD2673

Leonie Cooper: How are you working to ensure that MD2673 does not lead to a drop in apprenticeship uptake in London?

The Mayor: Through MD2673 I approved the expansion of the scope of the Apprenticeships for Londoners programme, so we can now work with employers in all sectors and occupations across London. I hope that this change will result in the creation of more apprenticeships than would have been possible during the current economic circumstances.
However, more needs to be done to ensure that employers are supported to create apprenticeship opportunities during this difficult time. Supporting Londoners into jobs and apprenticeships will therefore be a central pillar of my Good Work Recovery Mission.
Furthermore, I continue to lobby government to ask for greater flexibility in the levy transfer rules, that the apprenticeship employer incentive is made available for longer, and for it to reflect the higher cost of living, working and training in the capital. I also continue to ask for the powers and funding to establish a London Apprenticeship Service.

Support for Musicians in London

Leonie Cooper: Research provided by the Musicians Union suggests that 34% of musicians are considering leaving the industry due to Covid-19 repercussions. But what action can you and the Government take now to directly support musicians in London?

The Mayor: The pandemic has significantly impacted creative freelancers, many of whom are musicians. By April, 50 per cent of them had seen all their work dry up, while large numbers were left unable to access Government support schemes.
I’ve repeatedly called on Government to close the gaps for the self-employed. Sector specific support is needed urgently to protect thousands of jobs, including those in the creative supply chain.
The London Recovery Board, which I co-chair, recently approved key missions to support London’s recovery. This includes supporting Londoners into good work, with a focus on sectors key to London’s recovery, including culture and creative industries.
The music industry generates £5.2bn for the UK economy. I’m deeply concerned that we could permanently lose a wealth of talent that is integral to London’s success. Suggestions from Government that musicians should retrain into other jobs are entirely inappropriate.

Support for Grassroots Music Venues in London

Leonie Cooper: I welcome the action taken through the Culture at Risk Fund to support grassroots music venues. What more needs to be done given the announcement of restrictions for another six months?

The Mayor: Grassroots music venues are the lifeblood of the UK’s £5.2bn music industry. I’m pleased that we’ve been able to support 141 London venues with dedicated advice, support and grants to help see them through these challenging times.
These businesses are viable, but social distancing measures coupled with the new 10pm curfew mean the majority simply cannot afford to open. This means they are unable to access the latest Government schemes, such as the Job Support Scheme, putting countless jobs at risk.
Support for venues through the Culture Recovery Fund is welcome, but Government needs to do more to make sure these venues survive. This includes providing direct financial support for businesses that are closed and an extension of the business rates holiday. Government also needs to work with the sector to create a roadmap to reopening safely, supported by a fully functioning test and trace system.

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (2)

Gareth Bacon: Will the minutes and actions of meetings from the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm be made public? And if so, what will the timetables for publication be?

The Mayor: Notes and actions from meetings of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm will be published regularly. Updates on the Commission’s work will be reported in my monthly Mayor’s Report. The timetable for these will be set by the Commission, who will meet for the first time later this year once recruitment is complete.

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (3)

Gareth Bacon: Given that the Mayor founded the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm and it is due to be chaired by two Deputy Mayors, how will the independence of the Commission’s members be secured and protected?

The Mayor: Addressing the diversity in London’s public realm is up to everyone and partnership will be essential.As Mayor of London it’s right thatI convenethe Commission, London Councils, Partners Board membersand otherstakeholdersto work on this together, to represent all Londoners. There have been over 900 letters about the Commission so far, showing its importance to the public.
Commission members are being recruited through an open selection process to provide independent input, expertise and challenge. The recommendations and work of the Commission will be further supported and balanced by the Partners Board and ongoing public events.
My Deputy Mayors, Justine Simons and Debbie Weekes-Bernardheld a cross-party roundtable with 11 Council Leaders on 3 September. Cross-party borough leaders present agreed the Terms of Reference of the Commission and set up a Borough Working Group, open to all borough representatives across all parties, to share information and working practices.

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (4)

Gareth Bacon: How do you plan to ensure that the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm is politically neutral?

The Mayor: As Mayor of London it’s right that I convene the Commission, Partners Board, Councils and other stakeholders to work together to ensure that all Londoners feel they are represented in London’s public realm.
On 3 September my Deputy Mayors, Justine Simons OBE and Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard held a cross-party meeting with 11 Council Leaders. At the meeting, Leaders agreed the Terms of Reference of the Commission and set up a Borough Working Group, which is open to borough representatives from all political parties.
My Partners Board includes a range of organisations representing different interests, including Arts Council England, Black Cultural Archives, English Heritage, National Heritage Lottery Foundation and Shape Arts. My community engagement team will play a key role ensuring that a wide range of Londoners and community groups are represented in the Commission’s stakeholder engagement. The Commission is being recruited through an open process based on clear Terms of Reference.

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (5)

Gareth Bacon: How do you plan to assess the effectiveness and measure the success of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm?

The Mayor: The purpose of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm is to lead a London-wide conversation on how to achieve greater diversity of representation across the public realm and heritage sites. This will focus on increasing presence and visibility of underrepresented groups including Black, Asian and minority ethnic, women, LGTBQ+ and disabled groups and include consideration of representation of socio-economic diversity.
As set out in the Terms of Reference,the Commission will:
A detailed workplan, in line with an agreed budget, will be set out at the first Commission meeting. Once agreed, clear measures of success will be defined and monitored against this plan and the goals outlined above.

CSR Submission - Old Oak & Park Royal (2)

Andrew Boff: What is the basis for the claim in your CSR submission that 25,000 homes could be provided at Old Oak and Park Royal, in view of the Planning Inspector’s ruling and the status of Car Giant’s land?

The Mayor: Since the Inspector’s Interim findings last year, OPDC has identified additional sites for development, largely on public sector sites close to the new HS2 Old Oak Common Station and these are the basis of the proposed modifications to OPDC’s draft Local Plan.
This will include reallocating some land from industrial to mixed-use to accommodate the 6,335 homes that the Inspector removed from the Plan. We are confident that this new approach can deliver our full housing targets, as well as enabling important local employment sites to remain protected.

CSR Submission - Old Oak & Park Royal (3)

Andrew Boff: Where would the 25,000 homes mentioned in your CSR submission for Old Oak and Park Royal be located?

The Mayor: Since the Inspector’s Interim findings last year during the Local Plan Examination, OPDC has identified additional sites for residential led development to replace those the Inspector identified should be removed from the Plan. These sites are mainly around the new HS2 Interchange Station at Old Oak Common and are largely in public sector ownership, and we are proposing to submit this new work as modifications to OPDC’s draft Local Plan.
We are confident that this new evidence will confirm that we have viable land for 25,000 homes in the period to 2038.

Renewable Energy

Tony Devenish: Regional Government around the world often leads in implementing practical renewable energy projects, why haven't you?

The Mayor: Despite the lack of Government support and leadership I have supported the growth in renewable energy in London, and I will continue to prioritise this as part of my Green New Deal.
I recently outlined plans to explore supplying renewable power to Transport for London via a Power Purchase Agreement. As London’s single largest consumer of electricity, equivalent to electricity consumed by 437,000 homes, such an approach would see London directly drive significant new capacity in the UK market.
At local level, my Community Energy Fund, which fills the void left by the Government’s lack of support for such projects, has developed a pipeline with a generation capacity of 5MW. We are also supporting decentralised renewable energy projects, The Bunhill energy centre, which opened in March 2020, the first of its kind, uses waste heat from the Underground to provide heating and hot water to more than 1,350 homes, a school and two leisure centres in Islington.
This work complements my London Plan policies which continue to drive uptake of renewable energy through solar and heat pumps, and my support to financing renewable energy through my Mayor’s Energy Efficiency Fund and Retrofit Accelerators for Homes and Workplaces.

London Power

Tony Devenish: The FT Lombard column (15 September) ‘Councils can energy companies’ reported that even energy giants earned at best a 1% gross margin on energy sales. When will you be able to update us on any profit share the GLA has received from your Octopus commercial arrangement?

The Mayor: The GLA does not profit share in its agreement with Octopus Energy. Instead London Power receives commission for every customer that signs up and stays with us. Any profits made by London Power will be re-invested back into London’s communities on social and environmental projects.

Tree planting

Tony Arbour: Can the Mayor confirm how many trees have been planted since May 2016?

The Mayor: From May 2016 to date I have directly funded the planting of 286,000 trees in London, with trees planted in every borough.
I have committed funds to plant 5,000 more street trees this winter, and planting will also start on the two new woodlands in our Green Belt that I announced in July. These woodlands will cover 84 hectares and will plant a further 140,000 trees by 2022, starting this winter.
These figures include all trees planted through my Greener City Fund grants, tree giveaways and other directly funded programmes, as well as trees planted by Transport for London on the TLRN.
It does not include the thousands of trees planted each year in London funded by boroughs, environmental organisations, community groups, developers, businesses and Londoners.

River Pollution (2)

Leonie Cooper: Recent data from the Environment Agency has shown that 0% of England’s rivers, lakes and streams are in good health1. What more are you doing to address the health of London’s riverways?

1Gov.uk ‘WFD Classification Status Cycle 2’ [Date accessed 18.09.20]

The Mayor: The Environment Agency data referenced relates to overall river catchments. It still remains that only one of London’s 41 river water bodies is classed as ‘good’ – three are ‘bad’, five are ‘poor’ and the rest are ‘moderate’ under the EU Water Framework Directive.
In December 2019 I released research that highlighted the toxic effects of runoff from London’s principal road network on water quality. This led to me highlighting that the government must step up to provide the Environment Agency and highways authorities with the appropriate funding for measures to properly protect the capital's rivers. Since then my officers have been working hard on identifying the most appropriate solutions to help address this problem, due for release later this year.
In addition to addressing diffuse pollution from road runoff, my officers have been helping to raise awareness of misconnections (where a building’s wastewater pipes are incorrectly connected into rainwater downpipes) and have developed a map that highlights high risk areas (https://maps.london.gov.uk/misconnection/). My officers have also been in discussions with partners around misconnection enforcement and where the GLA can support that enforcement to reduce pollution events.
To complement, these works my officers have long been promoting the use of sustainable drainage through the delivery of the London Sustainable Drainage Action Plan. In addition to the flood risk, biodiversity and general amenity benefits that sustainable drainage can deliver, they can also significantly improve our water quality, potentially reducing pollution in our surface water runoff by up to 90%. Since 2016 over 9km of river has been restored in London and we have funded over 250 green infrastructure projects, a large proportion of which have incorporated measures to address water quality including river restoration and sustainable drainage. My Grow Back Greener Fund, launched this summer is also seeking to fund greening projects that include sustainable drainage measures.

Eco Levy

Nicky Gavron: Further to MQ 2020/2019, what would be the advantage to Londoners of devolving the Eco Levy to the Mayor instead of being allocated via the utility companies?

The Mayor: The principal benefit of having the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) devolved, is that London could receive a fairer share of a pot that all our billpayers pay into. Despite having 13 per cent of Great Britain’s population London has only received 4 per cent of the third phase of ECO, running since 2018. I estimate that this means that we are losing over £57m each year. Devolution, similar to that available to Scottish Ministers, would mean money staying in London for the benefit of fuel poor Londoners.
It could also be integrated with my own programmes, such as Warmer Homes and Retrofit Accelerator – Homes, and minimum targets set for the interventions, such as solid wall insulation, that fuel poor Londoners need. I see this as an important part of the work of the London Recovery Board and its missions driving the city’s medium to long-term recovery, which will have a particular focus on addressing structural inequalities, supporting the most vulnerable and preventing financial hardship.

Culture at Risk Business Support Fund Applications (2)

Andrew Boff: How many applicants received support from the Culture at Risk Business Support Fund?

The Mayor: My £2.3 million Culture at Risk Business Support Fund is providing emergency assistance to sustain cultural and creative venues most at risk of falling into administration, many of whom are unable to benefit from Government schemes or funding from Arts Council England.
To date, grants have been given to 122 grassroots music venues, LGBTQ+ venues, independent cinemas and artist workspaces across London. This has supported 11,500 creative practitioners and protected venues and their employees during the initial lockdown period.
As well as this, the Culture at Risk Business Support Fund is providing ongoing advice and guidance, supporting a further 127 venues so far who have been badly impacted by COVID-19. Additional specialist business support continues to be provided to creative businesses in all London boroughs through my Culture at Risk Office, the London Business Hub and Pay It Forward London.

Culture at Risk Business Support Fund Applications (1)

Andrew Boff: How many applications were there for support from the Culture at Risk Business Support Fund?

The Mayor: My £2.3 million Culture at Risk Business Support Fund is providing emergency assistance to sustain cultural and creative venues most at risk of falling into administration, many of whom are unable to benefit from Government schemes or funding from Arts Council England.
The funding is being distributed by three organisations: Music Venue Trust, with Safer Sounds Partnership; Creative Land Trust; and the British Film Institute. To date, a total of 226 grant applications have been submitted to the fund.

Old Oak & Park Royal - CSR submission (1)

Tony Devenish: Further to your submission to the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, what level of funding are you requesting for Old Oak and Park Royal? Please provide year by year timelines.

The Mayor: OPDC is currently developing its potential funding requirements, so an annual breakdown is not possible at this stage.
This work is being developed in tandem with preparing modifications to its draft Local Plan which will be the foundation for any future funding application.

Job retraining schemes in London

Joanne McCartney: How much government money has been allocated to London for job retraining schemes in the past few months, and to which groups of people are they targeted?

The Mayor: In February, the Department for Education (DfE) informed me of the delegated Adult Education Budget (AEB) for the 2020/21 academic year. DfE increased London’s AEB allocation by approximately £2.1 million to support demand for adult training following the national roll-out of the National Retraining Scheme ‘Get Help to Retrain’ service.
In September, DfE allocated an additional £12.9 million of AEB to fund sector-based work academies and high value courses for school and college leavers. The sector-based work academy programme is designed to help Jobcentre Plus claimants improve their job prospects and help employers to fill local vacancies. I have added a further £1.9 million taking the total amount available to support these activities to £14.9 million.
The government recently introduced the Lifetime Skills Guarantee which will support adults without A-levels to gain a Level 3 qualification. I am calling for this to be devolved in line with existing devolution arrangements.

CSR Submission - Old Oak & Park Royal (4)

Andrew Boff: Having previously been awarded £250m by the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund for Old Oak and Park Royal and subsequently having to turn down the funding, how would you avoid the same thing happening again with any CSR funding?

The Mayor: OPDC is working to submit modifications to its draft Local Plan that will demonstrate that its full London Plan housing targets can be delivered, using a new approach to priority sites, largely to the west and north of the new HS2 interchange at Old Oak Common. This new approach should lead to a firm planning policy foundation for any future bid for infrastructure funding. This will avoid the difficulties associated with our previous bid for Housing Infrastructure Funding which proved impossible to fulfil because of rapid changes to local industrial land values.

Culture at Risk Business Support Fund Declarations of Interests

Andrew Boff: What interests were declared by the people who took the decisions on grants from the Culture at Risk Business Support Fund?

The Mayor: My £2.3 million Culture at Risk Business Support Fund is being distributed by three organisations: Music Venue Trust with LGBTQ+ Venues Forum; Creative Land Trust and the British Film Institute.
Each partner established robust assessment processes, including declarations of interest for all panel members. Declarations of Interest are held by the distribution partners. Where conflicts of interest arose related to specific applications, those panel members did not take part in the assessment of that application. The process is in line with the Charities Commission guidance related to conflicts of interest.

Protection of trees

Andrew Boff: You say that your London Plan is clear that boroughs should protect veteran trees and ancient woodlands in their development plans and retain trees of value wherever possible – are you confident that this is happening and what is the definition of ‘wherever possible’?

The Mayor: The Trees and Woodlands policy in my new London Plan states that, in their Development Plans, boroughs should protect veteran trees and ancient woodlands. This is consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework as these are irreplaceable habitats. Local planning decisions should be made based on these clear policy statements.
I have gone further than national policy by stating that other trees of value should be retained ‘wherever possible’. This is a necessary caveat; the presence of valuable trees (other than veteran trees or ancient woodland) cannot be a reason for refusal as this would be contrary to national policy. If, regrettably, trees of value are removed as part of the planning decision process, my Tree and Woodlands policy requires compensatory planting based on the value of the benefits provided by the trees that are lost using a recognised methodology such as i-Tree or CAVAT.

Night Czar Response to the Pancemic

Shaun Bailey: What specific initiatives are being undertaken by Amy Lamé to revitalise London’s night-time economy in light of the coronavirus pandemic?

The Mayor: The night time economy has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and my Night Czar has been involved in several initiatives to support it.
She has worked with industry bodies and businesses to gather detailed intelligence on the impact to the night time economy, via nine virtual Night Surgeries. This has helped inform our response, including the design of my £2.3m Culture at Risk Business Support Fund, which is supporting night time businesses such as grassroots music, LGBTQ+ venues and cinemas.
She is also working closely with the hospitality industry to understand the impact of the recent 10pm curfew and is communicating their views and concerns back to me, as well as to central government.

Disposable plastics and addressing plastic waste

Leonie Cooper: The extension of the tax on plastic bags to all shows there is an appetite for tackling plastic waste. You have shown your own commitment in addressing the plastic bottle waste that was visible in our city. As such what steps are you now taking to tackle the disposable mask waste that is currently visible across London?

The Mayor: Face masks are now part of everyday life for many Londoners. Unfortunately, we have seen these littered all across London in parks and public spaces. These masks are not only unsightly and blight our green spaces and streets. They also find their way into rivers and oceans and we have seen huge numbers of masks being found on beaches and in oceans, further increasing the risk from plastic waste to wildlife, the wider environment and even human health. A study by UCL found that if every person in the UK used one single-use face mask each day for a year, it would create 66,000 tonnes of plastic waste.
London’s boroughs are responsible for the management of litter across the capital. However, recognising the problems arising from the mismanagement of disposable PPE, and masks in particular, I recently convened a roundtable to discuss how these problems may be tackled. This focussed on how reusable masks can be promoted and disposable mask littering can be discouraged, and proper disposal encouraged.
At the meeting, attended by boroughs, TfL and other London stakeholders, we discussed the need for greater collaboration between participants and recommended the adoption of consistent messaging such as that the GLA, working through the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB), has developed and delivered through their social media channels and has already reached over 1.6m Londoners. To aid this, through LWARB, we have made communications resources available free of charge and identified a number of actions to explore further, including working with London’s universities and identifying potential partners to work with to provide infrastructure (bins) to help tackle this problem.
In addition, I have written to all major supermarkets calling on them to stock face coverings, emphasizing these should be reusable, non-medical and at a price which is accessible to all. Through LWARB, I have also been supporting the use of reusable masks and promoting small London-based businesses producing these, most of which are made of surplus fabric and scraps, and many of whom pass on some or all of their profits to the NHS and other causes.

Rewilding

Andrew Boff: What specific plans do you have to support the Government’s recent announcement in relation to rewilding?

The Mayor: Whilst the Government has not made any specific announcements about rewilding, in his recent speech the Prime Minister did commit to ensuring the protection of 30% of the UK’s land by 2030 – an increase of 4%. However, this will entail extending landscape designations (e.g. National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) to parts of the British countryside. Most of these areas are agricultural landscapes.
Nevertheless, I welcome the Government commitment as this will help enhance biodiversity. In London I continue to invest in projects that do support rewilding. For example I am supporting rewilding of rivers through my Greener City Fund and my planning powers, and this winter we will start the planting of 84 hectares of new woodland in the Green Belt of Enfield and Havering in partnership with Enfield Council and the Woodland Trust. The Enfield project is the first stage of a potentially more extensive rewilding project.

Training and cladding remediation work (1)

Andrew Dismore: The National Audit Office found that there is a shortage of the skills and personnel needed to complete remediation work. How are you mitigating against this in London?

The Mayor: I wrote recently to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on behalf of London’s leaseholders, to outline my grave concerns with the External Wall Review (EWS) process.
I called for urgent and sustained action to deal with the matter, including that the government should set up a training and accreditation programme – which involves higher level learning and therefore is outside the remit of the adult education budget for which City Hall has responsibility - to vastly increase the number of competent professionals that can carry out safety inspections of external walls. Whilst this may take some time to establish, it will be essential in making the new building safety regime a success in the future. In the short-term, this programme should focus on upskilling existing professionals in the sector to specialise in the safety of external wall systems.

Raising London’s recycling rates (2)

Leonie Cooper: What work particularly are you doing with the London boroughs who are among those with the worst recycling rates in the UK?

The Mayor: London boroughs face particular challenges in increasing recycling, and there are several boroughs that are among the lowest in the UK in terms of recycling rate. On average 50 per cent of London’s population live in flats (this is as high as 80 per cent in some areas) and achieving high recycling rates from flats is more difficult than from kerbside properties. London also has a highly transient and diverse population with over 100 languages spoken. This can make communication on recycling services difficult.
I am working with all boroughs, with the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) to identify what improvements can be made and all have produced Reduction and Recycling Plans (RRPs). Through the RRP process, boroughs have planned how they will meet my minimum standards for recycling, and set recycling and waste minimisation targets that are ambitious while recognising each borough’s particular challenges.
Twenty nine boroughs now meet the minimum standards for dry recycling, and twenty four provide separate food waste collections. The four boroughs that do not meet the minimum standards for dry recycling are part of the East London Waste Authority (ELWA). There are contractual and technological constraints within ELWA’s disposal contract which mean the potential for significant service change to their waste and recycling is severely limited. I am pleased that members of the disposal authority and the Managing Director of Renewi met with my Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Shirley Rodrigues, to discuss what can be done to improve recycling performance in what remains of the current contract term.
LWARB supports boroughs in their plans and has produced toolkits and case studies to share good practice and provide easy to follow guidance for boroughs to improve services and increase recycling.
Please see also Mayor's Question 2020/3375.

CSR Submission - Old Oak & Park Royal (1)

Andrew Boff: Further to your submission to the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, which areas of land would be included in your funding request for Old Oak and Park Royal?

The Mayor: OPDC is currently scoping work to inform a potential future bid for funding. This work is being developed closely in line with the preparations for submitting modifications to our draft Local Plan. We will be engaging with our local stakeholders and community throughout that process.
We have identified sites for development, largely around the new HS2 Interchange Station at Old Oak Common, which are now subject to landowner engagement and discussion at the OPDC board.

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (7)

Gareth Bacon: After the initial two year term for members of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm, what do you envisage as their final product or output?

The Mayor: The purpose of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm is to lead a London-wide conversation on how to achieve greater diversity of representation across the public realm and heritage sites. This willfocus on increasing presence and visibility of underrepresented groups including Black, Asian and minority ethnic, women, LGTBQ+ and disabled groups and to include consideration of representation of socio-economic diversity.
As set out in the Terms of Reference, the Commission, working in partnership with boroughs, the Partners Board and other stakeholders, will:
A detailed workplan, in line with an agreed budget, will beset out for discussion by the Commissioners at the first Commission meeting.

Culture at Risk Business Support Fund Eligibility Criteria

Andrew Boff: What were the criteria for eligibility for support from the Culture at Risk Business Support Fund?

The Mayor: My £2.3 million Culture at Risk Business Support Fund is providing emergency assistance to sustain cultural and creative businesses most at risk of falling into administration, many of whom are unable to benefit from Government schemes or funding from Arts Council England.
Delivery partners assessed applications against the following criteria;
Criteria
Details
Financial information
Current financial status, projected loss, evidence of how the grant will resolve the immediate shortage.
Legal documentation
Copy of lease / mortgage and overview of applications made to reduce /defer payments in light of Covid-19
Other funding sought
Evidence of other support solicited and/or received to decrease liabilities.
Future resilience
Demonstration of how continued Covid-19 restrictions would be managed.
Equality and Diversity
Evidence of business’ policy of adherence to all principals of the Equality Act 2010 and proactive application of that policy.

Universities sector [1]

Andrew Dismore: The University sector welcomes the Mayor’s recognition of the role that London universities have to play in creating opportunities for Londoners from all backgrounds and the need to continue work on widening participation across London. Given the current Government policy rhetoric about levelling up, which tends to focus on the UK regions, do you agree that there is a need to lobby the Government about the need to level up in London, along with the rest of the country and that it is crucial that there is an understanding of ‘place within place’, as broad brush regional perspectives can miss out the socioeconomic difference that can be measured, for example, street by street in London?

The Mayor: London has seen significant improvements in access to Higher Education and social mobility over the last decade. Its student population is the most diverse in the country with a higher proportion of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) students and learners from lower socio-economic backgrounds. While London’s high performing economy creates many opportunities, it also creates high levels of poverty and inequality compared to other regions. This forms part of my submission to the government’s spending review. This poverty and inequality risks being further exacerbated by the pandemic and it is vital that London’s relative success at widening participation is not diminished as a result of COVID-19.
I have also previously written to the Office for Students, regarding my concerns over the use of Participation of Local Areas (POLAR) to identify disadvantaged learners and allocate funding to support widening participation. The OfS indicated that this is an area of review.

Retrofit Accelerator - Homes

Murad Qureshi: What is the budget of the Retrofit Accelerator – Homes programme?

The Mayor: My Retrofit Accelerator – Homes programme aims to transform the way London retrofits its ageing and energy-inefficient housing to create warm, affordable and ultra-low carbon homes.
The programme has an overall budget of £3.6m, composed of £1.8m European Regional Development Fund grant matched by £1.8m of Greater London Authority budget (this breaks down as £1.018m in 2019/20, £1.234m in 2020/21, £1.260m in 2021/22 and £88k in 2022/23). This revenue expenditure pays for a technical assistance team, additional specialist services (such as legal advice) and a programme evaluation.

Retrofit Accelerator Workplaces programme

Murad Qureshi: What is the budget of the Retrofit Accelerator Workplaces programme? When does the programme end? How many organisations are currently signed up? What sign up targets do you have, if any?

The Mayor: The budget for the Retrofit Accelerator – Workplaces programme is £3,740,130 (50% GLA and 50% European Regional Development Fund) for the period September 2019 to September 2022. The programme will therefore end in September 2022.
Since the new delivery team has been mobilised (July 2020) under this current contract, they have signed up six new public sector organisations which is on target. Their contractual target is to sign-up at least 24 new organisations by September 2022. A sign-up means a London public sector organisation that the project has not worked with before using a Support Plan to access the services of the Retrofit Accelerator Workplaces programme.

Culture at Risk Business Support Fund Decision Making

Andrew Boff: What are the names of the people who took the decisions on grants from the Culture at Risk Business Support Fund?

The Mayor: My £2.3 million Culture at Risk Business Support Fund is being distributed by three organisations: Music Venue Trust (MVT) with LGBTQ+ Venues Forum; Creative Land Trust and the British Film Institute. Each partner established a robust assessment framework against which independent panel members assessed each application. Decisions on applications from LGBTQ+ venues were ratified by the MVT’s board. A list of panel members can be found in the appendix.